Vriesea plant named ‘V858-2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Vriesea  cultivar named ‘V858-2’ is disclosed, characterized by well-branched flaming orange-red inflorescence color. The new variety is a  Vriesea,  typically produced as an indoor ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Vriesea hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘V858-2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to a new cultivar of Vriesea. The new varietyis the product of a planned breeding program. The new variety originatedas a seedling from the crossing of the unpatented, proprietary seedparent Vriesea ‘v.478-1’ with the unpatented, proprietary pollen parentreferred to as Vriesea ‘v.668-3’. The crossing was made by the inventorin his research greenhouse in Lithia, Fla. in October of 2003.

The new variety was first selected by the inventor, Herb Hill, a citizenof United States, in April of 2006 in a research greenhouse belonging tothe inventor in Lithia, Fla. After identifying the new variety as apotentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidentialtesting and propagation of ‘V858-2’, assessing stability of the uniquecharacteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘V858-2’ was first performed ata commercial laboratory in Kudelstaart, Netherlands by tissue culture in2008. Access to all plants was restricted, as plants were kept in agreenhouse not open to the public. Through subsequent propagation,multiple generations have been reproduced, which have shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘V858-2’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘V858-2.’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘V858-2’ as a new and distinct Vriesea cultivar:

-   -   1. Flaming orange-red inflorescence.    -   2. Green leaves.    -   3. Well branched inflorescence.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘V858-2’ are similar to the seed parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘V858-2’differs from the seed parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Shorter inflorescence.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘V858-2’ are similar to the pollen parent inmost horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘V858-2’differs from the pollen parent in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Different colored inflorescence.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘V858-2’ is similar in most horticultural characteristics to thepatented commercial variety Vriesea ‘Energy’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,235in most horticultural characteristics. However the new variety, ‘V858-2’differs from ‘Energy’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Inflorescence of ‘V858-2’ branches heavier than ‘Energy’.    -   2. Color pattern of inflorescence is flamed in ‘V858-2’ whereas        ‘Energy’ is plain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘V858-2’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in De Kwakel,Netherlands.

The plant is 20 months old from a rooted cutting, in a 12 cm pot. Thephotograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe a typical plant of ‘V858-2’ grown in acommercial greenhouse in De Kwakel, Netherlands. The plant is 20 monthsold from a rooted cutting, in a 12 cm pot. Temperatures ranged between20° C. and 28° C. during the day 18° C. and 22° C. at night. Nophotoperiodic or chemical treatments were given to the plants. Nosupplemental lighting was given. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Vriesea hybrid ‘V858-2’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Tissue culture.-   Time to initiate roots: About 15 days at approximately 20° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting/liner: About 180 days at    approximately 22° C.-   Root description: Densely branched, non-fibrous, non-fleshy, colored    Greyed-orange; near RHS 165A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Main rosette with inflorescence growing from the    centre; overall plant-shape: broad ovate.-   Height: Approximately: 38.0 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately: 41.5 cm.-   Normal pot size: 12 cm circular pot.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Branching characteristics: No stems, no lateral branches present,    plant consists of a basal rosette.-   Number of leaves per stem: Approximate number of leaves per rosette    (no stems present): 27.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate (in a basal rosette).        -   Average length.—Approximately 26.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 4.0 cm (measured at 50% of the            leaf blade).        -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate.        -   Aspect.—Leaves in an average angle of 60° to horizontal            (=0°).        -   Apex.—Abruptly acute, moderately to strongly twisted, tip            slightly to moderately downward in an average angle of −80°            to horizontal (=0°).        -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: Average 7.4 cm. Sheath            width: Average 7.4 cm. Sheath color: Upper side purple; in            between near RHS N77C and N79B, underside purple; in between            near RHS N77C and N79A.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, very glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, very glossy.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green; near RHS N137A.            Young foliage under side: Yellow-green; in between near RHS            146A and 147B. Mature foliage upper side: Green to            yellow-green; in between near RHS N137A and 147A but much            darker. Mature foliage under side: Green; near RHS N137B.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel. Venation coloration: As leaf            blade.        -   Petiole.—No petiole present.

INFLORESCENCE

-   General description: Scape growing from the centre of the basal    rosette, inflorescence branched into a paniculate shape; only bracts    visible, individual flowers not visible but fully enclosed by    bracts.    -   -   Inflorescence height, excluding scape.—Approximately 25.9            cm.        -   Inflorescence width.—Approximately 8.8 cm.-   Scape:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 29.3 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.8 cm.        -   Aspect.—Approximately 90° angle to rosette (=0°).        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—Red; near RHS 51A.-   Bracts:    -   -   Scape/lowermost bracts.—Shape: Ovate. Length: Approximately            2.7 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately 1.8 cm            (measured at the base, just above the sheath). Quantity:            Average 13. Tip: Abruptly acute. Base: Sheath length:            Approximately 3.0 cm. Sheath width: Approximately 2.8 cm.            Sheath color: Red; near RHS 53D. Margin: Entire. Color Upper            side: Lower bracts yellow-green; near RHS 146A and 146B.            apex greyed-purple; near N186C, upper bracts red; near 46A,            apex yellow-green; near RHS 146A. Color Under side: Lower            bracts green; near RHS 143A, apex greyed-purple; near 187C,            upper bracts red; near RHS 47A, tinged yellow-green, near            RHS 146C, apex yellow-green; near RHS 146A.        -   Terminal bracts.—Shape: Ovate, folded (flattened). Length:            Approximately 2.3 cm, excluding sheath. Width: Approximately            2.8 cm; however, bracts are folded, so in effect it is two            times 1.4 cm. Quantity: Average 120. Tip: Apiculate. Base:            Sheathing. Sheath length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Sheath            width: Approximately 3.0 cm; however, bracts are folded, so            in effect it is two times 1.5 cm. Sheath color: Orange-red;            near RHS N30A. Margin: Entire. Coloration Terminal Bracts:            Upper side: Orange; near RHS 24B, fading yellow-orange            towards the margins; near RHS 14C. Under side: Orange-red;            near RHS 34A, fading yellow-orange towards the margins; near            RHS 21B.

FLOWER

-   Flowering characteristics: Individual flowers fully enclosed by the    bracts and therefore not visible from outside.; each bract encloses    one individual flower.-   Days to flowering from tissue culture: 2 to 2.5 years.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Inflorescence paniculate,    individual flower single.-   Flower longevity on plant: Average: 3 months.-   Quantity of buds and flowers per plant: Average: 120.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Length.—Average: 1.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average: 0.4 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green; near RHS 150B to 150C.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Average: 0.6 cm.        -   Depth.—Average: 2.7 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Quantity.—Average: 3.        -   Arrangement.—Rotate, fused.        -   Length.—Average: 1.7 cm.        -   Width.—Average: 0.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate, fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Glabrous, moderately            glossy.        -   Color.—When opening, upper surface: Yellow; near RHS 4C,            apex yellow-green; near RHS 150A. When opening, lower            surface: Yellow; near RHS 4A, 4B and 4C, tip yellow-green;            near RHS N144A. Fully opened, upper surface: Yellow; near            RHS 4C, apex yellow-green; near RHS 150A. Fully opened,            lower surface: Yellow; near RHS 4A, 4B and 4C, tip            yellow-green; near RHS N144A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity.—Average: 3.        -   Length.—Average: 2.5 cm.        -   Width.—Average: 0.9 cm.        -   Shape (overall).—Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate,            fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Color.—Yellow; near RHS 10B, apex near RHS 8A.-   Peduncles:    -   -   Length.—Average: 6.2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average diameter: 0.5 cm.        -   Angle.—About 25° to the lateral branch.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Glabrous, glossy.        -   Color.—Yellow-green; near RHS 150C.-   Fragrance: No fragrance.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamen:    -   -   Number.—Average: 6.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Narrow oblong.        -   Length.—Approximately 0.7 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow and yellow-orange; near RHS 13A and 12B.        -   Pollen.—No pollen detected.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—Average: 1.        -   Length.—Average: 0.7 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Average: 0.65 cm. Color: Yellow-green; near            RHS 150D, top darker; near RHS 151B.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Club-shaped. Color: Yellow-green; near RHS            150B. Ovary Color: Yellow-green; near RHS 150D.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to the    normal diseases and pests of Vriesea has been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Observed to tolerate temperatures to 35° C.    without any negative effects. Temperature tolerance above this range    has not been observed. Tolerance of cold temperatures has not been    observed.-   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Vriesea plantnamed ‘V858-2’ as herein illustrated and described.